Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Tag: 100 most influential filipinos in the gulf

  • Dr. Michael Purugganan – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Dr. Michael Purugganan – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gamechangers – Michael Purugganan

    Scientist

    Internationally-renowned scientist Dr. Michael Purugganan has contributed to the global pool of knowledge, especially in the area of plant molecular evolution and genomics.  His work has also become a valuable resource for the UAE to help in the improvement and preservation of one of the region’s most important plant species – the date palm.

    Dr. Michael Purugganan - Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf
    Photo by: NYU Media Services

    A leading global authority in the field, Michael is the Co-Director for the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology at the New York University (NYU) in Abu Dhabi.  There he heads a group of scientists who study palm varieties—from the origin, evolution up to their genetic makeup. His work was recognized by the UAE government earning him the Khalifa International Date Palm Award in 2015.  Michael also serves as the Dean for Science at the NYU’s main campus in New York and has published over 130 research papers contributing to global scientific knowledge.

    Michael, who graduated from the University of the Philippines in Diliman and earned his Masters at Columbia University and the University of Georgia, is a representation of virtuosity in any field, as well as the ability of the Filipino mind to compete and contribute at a global level.  He believes in always setting challenging benchmarks in order to excel.  He remarks, “We should keep ourselves to a high standard of excellence in whatever we do.  We should always aspire to be the best, not because of what others think, but for our own satisfaction.”

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  • Robert Bagatsing – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Robert Bagatsing – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gamechanger – Robert Bagatsing 

    Social Entrepreneur 

    Robert Bagatsing - Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf
    Photo by: Tristan Gallardo

    Robert Bagatsing has always had it in his moral code to support humanitarian advocacies that benefit the underprivileged.  Believing that education is a powerful tool to prevent poverty, he and his wife have built a platform that not only benefits the community of engineers across the world but also has sent thousands of children in various countries to school.

    He is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of GineersNow, the largest online global platform for engineers and scientists around the world, with some 20 million visitors on a monthly basis.  The company publishes specialized free online magazines including focused on Construction, HVACR, Power & Water, Oil & Gas, Renewables, Technology, and Social Impact.  They also release video documentaries featuring founders, CEOs, and other leaders from Fortune 500 companies as well as unicorn startups, and have collaborated with tech giants in Silicon Valley (Google, Apple, Amazon), China (Baidu and Tudou) and Russia (Yandex) to help push content in the digital space.

    As a social enterprise, GineersNow dedicates part of its profits to charity, supporting impoverished children in Kenya, South Africa, India, Syria and the Philippines, helping them secure an education.  Robert and his team also assist the parents of the children, helping them find sustainable sources of livelihood.

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  • Chef Earl Roland Puse – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Chef Earl Roland Puse – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gamechanger – Chef Earl Roland Puse

    Photo by: Rozen Antonio

    Born in Paris to Bulakenyo parents and raised in London, Chef Earl Roland Puse comes from a background steeped in multicultural culinary influences.

    He has honed his skills at a variety of world-class restaurant brands, including the Conran (now Plateau Restaurant – Canary Wharf), La Petite Maison in London and Dubai.  He was also appointed Head Chef for Coya Abu Dhabi in 2016 where he shaped the restaurant’s trajectory, and with his team, bagged Best New Comer in 6 months and Restaurant of the Year within 9 months of operations. 2018 saw Chef Earl open another outlet for Coya overseas.  This year is a particularly important highlight in this Chef’s career as he has been asked to go back to the Emirates, to open 2 Michelin star L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon’s outlet at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).

    Asked about his recipe for career success, Chef Earl shares, “All I did was do my job at the highest level. Whatever I did had to be perfect, in doing so for almost ten years in the UAE, surrounded by many different ethnicities in the kitchen – including many Filipino chefs that I had the pleasure to work with. It’s what it’s all about. Lead by example and leave a part of you in every person and individual you have worked with. To have your chefs believe, teach, coach, talk, cook and preach as you did after you have left, is what it’s all about.”

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  • Mayet Galang Evans – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Mayet Galang Evans – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Mayet Malang Evans

    Entrepreneur

    Photo by: Rozen Antonio 

    With her serial entrepreneurial skills coupled with grit and determination to expand her ventures, Mayet Malang Evans is happy to see that her dream of uplifting other people’s lives through alternative education is growing steadily.

    As the CEO of Filbrit Training Centre, a provider of educational opportunities at a reasonable cost for companies and individuals, which she has co-founded with her husband Mark Evans (Chairman), Mayet has pushed to extend what she and her team started within the UAE. True to her and her husband’s vision, they have expanded their school, establishing branches in Romania and in the UK, where they also provide primary and secondary distance learning programs. With their endeavors, she hopes to help people realize their dreams by cultivating both knowledge and life skills, providing an alternative to those who cannot afford traditional schools, as well as those looking to shift careers.

    Mayet’s vision and legacy are anchored on her own story of hard work and success, from setting up the first legal Filipino training center in the UAE, all the way to becoming an international brand.   Her belief that education is a gift that nobody should take away is a constant motivator for all her efforts.  She says, “It doesn’t matter if you were born poor or rich; you should work for your dream and never stop learning.”

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  • Victoria Mikkelsen – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Victoria Mikkelsen – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Victoria Mikkelsen

    Entrepreneur

    Photo by: Donell Gumiran

    Business veteran Victoria Mikkelsen co-owns with her husband Mogens Mikkelsen, two of the oldest schools in Abu Dhabi – ABC School and the ABC Nursery, as well as an international freight business, ‘Victors Freight International Corp,’ that does operations between the region and the Philippines (and soon, opening a branch in Europe. A volunteer providing support to the city’s community of Filipino entrepreneurs for many years via the Philippine Business Council, ‘Vikki,’ as she is also known to friends, is also proud to be able to give livelihood to fellow Filipinos, herself having grown from humble roots.

    “Being able to employ Filipino staff, and giving them a source of living, enabling them to achieve their dreams for their families is one contribution to our community that is very close to my heart,” she says. “I would like to have a legacy of being an entrepreneur, a heart – a boss that is approachable, ready to listen and be able to uplift the life of my people.”

    As an entrepreneur who’s had to learn many valuable lessons in order to thrive in a changing market, by adopting new methods and techniques to improve, Vikki also encourages Filipinos to put a premium on continued development and to keep evolving.  “Above all learnings, we should learn from the other people around us – without forgetting our own positive nature as Filipinos,” she says.

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  • Marlon Aquino Malinao – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Marlon Aquino Malinao – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Marlon Malinao

    Journalist and Community Volunteer 

    Photo by: Ino Florencio

    Marlon Malinao is committed to two very distinct disciplines that exemplify the infinite talent and creativity of Filipinos.   The Senior Editor of Kuwait’s leading English daily, he devotes his free time perfecting his skills in the field of make-up, while also utilizing his gifts to support those in need.  He shares, “As a journalist, I am proud to share my credibility and work ethics.  On the other hand, I use my craft as a platform to highlight the Filipinos’ ingenuity and concern for others.”

    Capping his growth in the make-up sector, Marlon has been recently tapped by world-renowned British make-up artist and label owner Charlotte Tilbury for a collaboration that will be featured in their regional and global campaigns.  “This is definitely a dream come true,” Marlon shares.

    The flip side of this is being able to further his advocacy for supporting cancer patients and the less fortunate by giving proceeds of his make-up projects to community initiatives.  Marlon has also teamed up with Childhope Asia and Project 30 to facilitate the donation of school bags and hygiene kits to disadvantaged students in Manila.  To provide a potential source of livelihood in the Philippines, Marlon has also started teaching makeup application to distressed Filipino workers.  “I want to leave a legacy of empathy, charity, and inspiration. I want to be known as an ‘encourager’ to do good and break the glass ceiling. The world has plenty of critics and disparagers already.”

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  • Jan Barlow – Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

    Jan Barlow – Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

    Thoughtleader – Jan Barlow 

    Community Champion – Business

    Photo by: Donell Gumiran 

    The former Chairman of the Philippine Business Council in Abu Dhabi and a very dynamic member of the Executive Committee for years, Jan Barlow has shared her skills, leadership and has worked and spearheaded many projects that proved beneficial to the local community.

    A tireless community volunteer and consummate professional, Jan has helped many Filipinos in the business community in establishing relationships with the Philippines’ commercial and trade representatives and vice – versa, sharing business opportunities and technical know-how with peers and aiding in their journey towards self-employment. In 2018, she also spearheaded the council’s first VAT seminar in the capital, involving ten international business groups in one roof with over a hundred attendees. The Philippine Business Council – Abu Dhabi received great recognition because of this event.

    A technical writing expert leading Pacific Consulting’s team of specialists, Jan emphasizes the importance of elevating skills to advance the Philippines’ global competitiveness. She remarks, “As a country, we have a lot to contribute. Simply smiling and being able to sing and dance do not guarantee a living,” she says. “For that, we need to become more capable, particularly in terms of getting the job done and guaranteeing results. If we can do that, others will continue to recognize the Philippines as a talented, professional nation.”  She adds, “My hope for the Philippines and its people is that our nation may assume its rightful place among the countries of the world, respected and admired for our capabilities, humanity, and achievement.”

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  • WYWY – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    WYWY – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Tastemakers – WYWY

    Alternative Indie Musicians 

    Photo by: Ace Reyes

    Established by multi-talented musician couple X and Mckie Alvarez, WYWY has been spreading their signature dream-pop/ethereal wave brand of music across the region, performing their unique psychedelic sound in various indie events. In 2019 alone, the band has performed at the Quoz Arts Fest; JBR Street Beats Music Festival; Sikka 2019; and in Bahrain for Museland Records where they won Artist of the Year at the Gulf Indie Music Awards.

    The band dropped their Ep album ‘Within you Without you’ on cassette tape via Analog Amigo Records, and also released their first-ever Tagalog single – ‘Hapis.’ WYWY also served as the opening act for the Japanese sound artist Dr. Ryosuke Kiyasu at Alserkal Avenue and has collaborated with Croatian filmmaker Gita Blak for their ‘SYN’ performance. As one of the most well-represented indie bands of the local Filipino scene, they’ve become a beacon for other emerging artists.

    “We are proud that most of the places we’ve been to are the places that have never seen or knew Filipino artists in this kind of genre and art,” the two say. “Our aim is to introduce other people to open up their minds to different kinds of music and not to get stuck in the past rather make the past as their inspiration and create something different.” (more…)

  • Gelo Santos – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gelo Santos – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Trailblazer – Gelo Santos 

    Travel Blogger & Author

    Photo by: Jef Anog

    Dr. Gelo Santos aims to inspire everyone to travel, regardless of distance and destination. This year marks the 51st country in his travels, and after publishing two travel books, Doc Gelo (as he is fondly called) has been hard at work, making his third book come to fruition. Entitled ‘Departures,’ his latest work is a celebration of the power and joy in travel, conveyed through a selection of postcard-perfect images taken across 5 continents.

    Gelo’s works have also garnered much adoration on social media; his photos are often featured in prominent photography pages, including the quintessential Dubai tourism platforms. His images depicting the Dubai metro have also been featured exclusively by CNN Arabic. He was also featured in an article with his photographs in conjunction with the Dubai Metro’s 10th-anniversary celebration.

    Of his globetrotting, this wander luster remarks, “My favorite part, each time I travel, is whenever I am asked by locals of my origin.” He says. “I always take pride and say that I am from the Philippines! I believe that in such moments, I am able to show the world that we Filipinos can be global and can set foot on destinations that were once just a part of our bucket lists.”

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  • Donell Gumiran – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Donell Gumiran – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Trailblazer – Donell Gumiran

    Photographer

     

    Modest and soft-spoken, Donell Gumiran is not only one of the most well-respected photographers in Dubai, but his feats are also internationally renowned. In 2019 alone, he amassed several awards across the globe, including Photographer of the Year at the Spider Awards Black & White (United States), gold at the Prix de la Photographie (Paris), and another gold at the Tokyo Foto Awards. His work was also selected as one of the Top 20 Asian Geographic Magazine Covers of 2019, and his images were also exhibited in New York, Italy, London, Tokyo, Spain, Germany, Australia, and across the GCC. Capping his impressive year, Donell was also a featured speaker at the prestigious Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Awards (HIPA) – ‘Capturing Human Emotions’ event this year.

    Donell shares that he sees photography as a tool to unite Filipinos through a shared creative platform, saying, “I am committed to sharing my knowledge, passion and expertise with fellow Filipinos through collaboration. I always try to inspire others, help them to expand their skills and enhance their artistic eye. My photography vision is conveying reality’s message to all of us. I am living my mission as an artist for humanity.”

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